Kane Brown is one of a dozen country acts on this year's RodeoHouston lineup. But he's unlike any performer in recent memory to take the rotating stage.

Just a few songs into his Saturday night set at NRG Stadium, Brown recounted his tortured upbringing in front of a crowd of 75,122. The young, biracial singer was raised by a single mom, sometimes lived in a car and ate Cheerios for dinner, was abused by his stepdad and got called the "n-word" by kids in school.

He recounted the story in "Learning," a tender ballad he called "the most important song I've written in my life." It's built on the rap cadence adopted by so many bro-country singers. But Brown's delivery didn't fee like a gimmick. It was integral to the song and its message.

He followed it with "American Bad Dream," a song that ponders school shootings and American brutality. In the next moment, the screens flickered with video greetings from active duty military members.

Now Playing:

Kane Brown gets an award and dances with his wife onstage.

Media: Joey Guerra

Brown's gift is in his intention. He acknowledges country music traditions and plays into radio cliches. But he also subverts them, sometimes without the crowd even realizing, and touches on subjects no one else would dare.

"Two years ago I got asked if I would ever do the Houston rodeo and I said I'd never make it that big," Brown said, adding that growing up in a rodeo family made the show particularly special.

Brown took the stage in a black ball cap and a Houston Texans Deshaun Watson jersey. Brown has a deep, honeyed voice that also sets him apart from so many young breakouts.

His songs are steeped in country but laced with R&B flourishes, musically and vocally. "Weekend" in particular could be a hit for any number of top 40 singers.

He took a stool atop one of the stage's star points during plaintive ballads "Work" and "Live Forever." He sang the chorus of "Saturday Nights," a new single featuring El Paso native Khalid. And he made like a country heartthrob on "Short Skirt Weather."

Late in the set, RodeoHouston officials presented Brown with a plaque recognizing his single "Heaven" for being certified four times platinum (or sales of 4 million units). They also told him Saturday's show ranked 15th overall in paid attendance.

Brown could only muster a sheepish, "That's crazy." But he'd already said plenty through his music.

Joey Guerra writes about music and pop culture for the Houston Chronicle. He will be writing about every single RodeoHouston concert. Follow him on Twitter. Send him news tips at joey.guerra@chron.com.